Jan 26

Jan 26 Aotearoa History

Before making the leap to a new country, it can be both fun and important to learn a little bit about the history of the place. I’ve compiled a list of useful resources we’ve used to learn more about New Zealand. It’s been wild to learn about how this country developed both geologically and socially/culturally. Hopefully you’ll find this list helpful as a starting off point.

RNZ The Aotearoa History Show - This 14 episode podcast gives a very high level overview of everything New Zealand. It’s family friendly, and I’ve found listening to the way words are pronounced to be extremely helpful.
History of Aotearoa New Zealand Podcast - This one doesn’t have much in the way of fancy production behind it, but it is full of New Zealand and Maori history. If you can focus on the dry delivery, there’s plenty of good info to be had.
The Citizen’s Handbook - Hilariously funny podcast and video series made by RNZ. The start is a little strange in each episode, but just hang in there! I think this would be what a New Zealand history show segment would be on The Daily Show back when Jon Stewart hosted. I also appreciate that they don’t whitewash anything.
A Short History of New Zealand - This one is my husband’s favorite. It’s a relatively quick read, but it focuses more on recent history than a lot of details on original settlers.
Aotearoa - The New Zealand Story - This book is beautifully illustrated and great for kids under 8. There’s history and Maori stories to keep everyone’s interest.
First People in New Zealand - If you’re more of a visual person, this documentary is a bit dry, but it covers heaps of information about how the Maori got to New Zealand and the first few hundred years in Aotearoa. It also provides ample background to understand the current day tension between Maori and European settlers, but doesn’t go into much detail into the struggles themselves.
Introduction to Parliament - This video goes through all things related to how the New Zealand government works. There isn’t a lot of history, per se, but there is a lot of explanation and background information about how things work. It’s VERY important information because you do not need to be a citizen to vote here - you only need to be a resident with no leave-by date on your visa. (I’ve written more about that here.)